Conquering math anxiety : a self-help workbook

241 Pages·2010·2.23 MB·English

by  Cynthia A Arem

Conquering
Math Anxiety
A S E L F - H E L P W O R K B O O K
Cynthia A. Arem, Ph.D.
Pima Community College
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Conquering Math Anxiety: © 2010, 2003 Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
A Self-Help Workbook, Third
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Cynthia A. Arem
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 13 12 11 10 09
To Arnie
My best friend, confidant, teacher, guardian angel, and nurturer of all
my dreams and ambitions—so loving, sensitive, and sincere. Thank
you for being there, every step of the way in my life and in my work.
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C O N T E N T S
1 Do You Really Have Math Anxiety?
1
Goals for Success / 4
Exercise 1-1: My Plan for Math Success / 7
Exercise 1-2: Collaborative Learning: Share Your Math Goals
and Action Steps / 11
Summary / 12
2 The Math Anxiety Process
13
Reexamine Your Past Math History / 14
Dyscalculia: A Cause or a Symptom? / 25
What Is Your Math History? / 25
Exercise 2-1: Your Math Autobiography / 26
Exercise 2-2: Collaborative Learning: New Insights
and Revelations / 28
Picture the Math Anxiety Process / 29
Exercise 2-3: Math Journal Writing / 31
Exercise 2-4: Collaborative Learning: Share Insights from
Your Math Journal / 33
Summary / 34
v
vi C O N T E N T S
3 Learn to Manage Anxiety and Improve
Working Memory
35
Anxiety Can Affect Your Long-Term and Working
Memory Systems / 36
Fine-Tune Your Anxiety Level / 40
Exercise 3-1: The Calming Breath / 41
Exercise 3-2: Deep Abdominal Breathing Technique / 42
Summary / 44
4 Overcome Internal Barriers
45
Exercise 4-1: The Wall Fantasy / 45
Exercise 4-2: Analyze Your Fantasy / 46
Getting Through the Wall / 47
Exercise 4-3: Word Problem Log / 49
Math Self-Concept and Math Self-Efficacy / 50
Exercise 4-4: Your Math Self-Concept: A Self-Assessment / 51
Summary / 53
5 Positive Thinking Is a Plus Sign
54
Do You Have an Attitude Problem? / 54
Exercise 5-1: Positive Affirmations for Succeeding in Math / 55
Exercise 5-2: Poster Your Wall / 57
Exercise 5-3: Challenge Negative Self-Talk (Optional) / 58
Create Personal Metaphors / 58
Exercise 5-4: Create Personal, Positive Metaphors / 60
Put Enthusiasm into Your Life / 61
Exercise 5-5: Collaborative Learning: The Math Winner’s
Ad Campaign / 65
Exercise 5-6: Develop Your Personal Winning Language
(Optional) / 66
Exercise 5-7: Caution: Beware of Negative Math Thinkers / 68
Exercise 5-8: Identify Your Math Support Group / 69
Contents vii
Believe You Will Succeed / 70
Exercise 5-9: Rewrite Disempowering Math Beliefs / 70
Exercise 5-10: Collaborative Learning: Believe in Yourself / 71
Express Legitimate Math Rights / 72
Exercise 5-11: Identify Your Math Rights / 72
Summary / 73
6 Win with “Success in Math Visualizations”
74
Program Yourself to Succeed / 76
Exercise 6-1: “Success in Math Visualization” / 78
Exercise 6-2: Rehearse a Forthcoming Math Situation / 79
Build Confidence / 80
Exercise 6-3: A Memory Bank of Positive Images / 80
Anchor Confidence / 81
Exercise 6-4: Anchor Confidence in Math / 82
Exercise 6-5: Visualize Metaphors for Success / 83
Exercise 6-6: My Brilliant (Math) Career / 84
Summary / 85
7 Enhance Your Learning Style
86
Perceptual Learning Channels / 87
Exercise 7-1: Your Perceptual Learning Channels:
A Self-Assessment / 88
Suggestions for Distinctive Learning Channels / 90
A Sequential versus a Global Learning Style / 95
A Deductive versus an Inductive Learning Style / 98
Exercise 7-2: Collaborative Learning: Share Your Insights
on Learning Styles / 100
Other Major Factors Affecting Your Learning / 101
Exercise 7-3: When Is Your Mental Energy at Its Highest? / 102
Exercise 7-4: How Does Sound Affect You? (Optional) / 103
Exercise 7-5: How Does Lighting Affect You? (Optional) / 104
viii C O N T E N T S
Exercise 7-6: How Does Temperature Affect You? (Optional) / 105
Exercise 7-7: How Does Room Design Affect You? (Optional) / 106
Exercise 7-8: How Does Food Affect You? (Optional) / 106
Summary / 108
8 Effective Math Study Skills:
The Fuel of Excellence
109
How Good Are Your Study Skills? / 110
Exercise 8-1: My Personal Math Study-Skills Inventory / 110
How Do You Approach Learning? / 112
Which Math Class to Take? / 113
Schedule It Right / 114
Teacher Selection: Satisfaction Guaranteed / 115
Give It Your All / 116
Stay Current / 116
Attend All Classes / 117
Be Bold: Sit Near the Front / 117
Take Class Notes / 117
Questions That Count; Answers That Add Up / 118
The Magic of “Now” Improves Memory / 119
The Birth of Excellence: Say and Do / 121
Homework Hints / 122
Visualize the Problems / 122
The Ten Commandments of Work Checking / 123
Practice, Practice, Practice / 124
Overlearn Your Math / 125
From Acquisition to Understanding / 125
Follow Your Alertness Cycles / 128
Take Breaks / 128
Stop Procrastinating: Do It Now! / 129
Exercise 8-2: Shift to Super Action Self-Talk / 131
Tackle Your Math Book / 132
Read the Chapter Before and After Class / 132
Contents ix
How to Read Your Math Text / 133
Keep a Math Terms and New Ideas Log / 135
Flashcards for Quick Recall / 135
Use Additional Resource Materials / 136
Get Help Fast / 137
Study Buddies / 138
Clear the Minefield / 139
Helpful Strategies for Dealing with Dyscalculia / 141
Now It’s Time for You to Decide / 143
Exercise 8-3: Collaborative Learning: My Commitment
for Improvement / 143
Summary / 144
9 Conquer Test Anxiety
145
Exercise 9-1: Symptoms of Test Anxiety / 145
Test Preparation and Test-Taking Strategies / 146
Exercise 9-2: Your Next Math Exam / 147
Exercise 9-3: Design Practice Math Exams / 148
Exercise 9-4: Your Typical Math Errors / 149
Exercise 9-5: Your Math “Cheat Sheet” (Optional) / 150
Deal with Psychological Pressures / 151
Exercise 9-6: Become Aware of Continuous Inner Dialogue / 154
Exercise 9-7: Negative to Positive Self-Statement Shifts / 155
Exercise 9-8: Thought-Stoppage Technique / 156
Exercise 9-9: Positive Statements for Academic Success / 156
Exercise 9-10: Practice the Calming Techniques / 158
Exercise 9-11: A “Math Test Anxiety Reduction Visualization” / 160
Performance Health Tips / 163
Be Your Own Exam Coach: Put It All Together / 166
Exercise 9-12: Collaborative Learning: The Best
Coaching Practices / 167
Exercise 9-13: Math Test Anxiety Reduction Checklist / 168
After Your Next Exam / 169